200 Books
Well, I limped across the finish line but I did it: I read 200 books in 2022. There were many, many times I thought I wouldn’t make it. In fact, Goodreads (the reading app I use to track my goals, what I’ve read, and what I want to read) reminded me day after day all year that I was behind schedule to complete my goal. Alas, 11th hour as usual I crossed the finish line and I’m so proud that I didn’t allow the biggest, best year of my life to derail this insanely ambitious goal.
I’ve shared pretty openly over the years why I set these reading goals but for those of you who might be new here I’d like to tell the story again…
I had a hard time learning how to read. Nothing about reading came easily for me and through most of elementary school I scored below my grade level in reading comprehension. It was a struggle and often I felt stupid because of it - why couldn’t it come easily to me the way I saw it work for so many of my peers and even my own siblings?
The summer between 5th and 6th grade I bought the book ‘Gone with the Wind’ at Sam’s Club to take on summer vacation. I had never read for fun in my life because it was so much work I couldn’t enjoy it. In the back of our SUV on that summer vacation I fell in love with reading and slowly but surely thereafter, reading started to click for me. Years later I would self diagnose that what made it so difficult for me was being dyslexic. I had to work harder than most and still if you get me tired I’ll read all my words or numbers backwards. As time went on and I found literature I loved to read, though, I overcame and eventually fell in love with reading.
To this day I read my yearly goals with gratitude because I can read and learning to read gave me the confidence to go on and be successful in middle, high school, and start college 2 years early. I will never take for granted the ability to read and the worlds it has opened up to me since. I have spent many hours since tutoring reading for other kids who struggle, telling them what I always wanted to hear: you ARE smart you just have to work harder at it then other kids.
Will I do 200 again? I’m not sure. Someday maybe but it won’t be this year. I’m working at embracing and enjoying my new roles at work and home. This year was probably the worst year to pick such a large goal since we got engaged and married this year AND we both took big promotions and a lot more work on. It was A LOT. So next year I’m going to slow down the reading to put more time and energy into this amazing life we’re building. I will always work at reading and 2023 won’t be without a goal, just a smaller one. If you want to join me, find me on goodreads and let’s continue to fall in love with reading together.
